Bodmin Exchange
55020 arrives and Judy departs for the Plym Valley Railway
Roger Winnen
55020 arrives and Judy departs for the Plym Valley Railway
Roger Winnen
171020a Pressed Steel Bubble Car 55020 awaits unloading at Bodmin General. Copyright Roger Winnen
171020m Judy has now been chained down ready for its journey across the border. Copyright Roger Winnen
171020q The scene outside of the workshops at Bodmin. Copyright Roger Winnen
For more photographs of this event please see the Features Pages September-December 2017
Celebrity 43093 Old Oak Common
HST Depot 1976-2018 working the 10.00 Penzance-Paddington
Andrew Triggs
HST Depot 1976-2018 working the 10.00 Penzance-Paddington
Andrew Triggs
171020r Recently vinyled and named Old Oak Common HST Depot 1976-2018 43093 leads the 10.00hrs to London Paddington. Copyright Andrew Triggs
171020s The side vinyles of the power car. Copyright Andrew Triggs
171020t A close up of the nameplate. Copyright Andrew Triggs
171020u 43093 Looks very smart as she waits departure on the 10.00 to Paddington. Copyright Andrew Triggs
Truro '71
Roger Winnen
Roger Winnen
Looking east from the black footbridge in June 1971. Work is in progress. Copyright Roger Winnen
The PHASED CHANGES AT
TRURO IN 1971
Details from Roy Hart
Really fascinating information
TRURO IN 1971
Details from Roy Hart
Really fascinating information
TRURO 1971
The layout and signalling at Truro altered hardly at all from its installation in 1900 for seventy years.
The two Truro boxes-East and West, both opened with the new station (built by Sir Arthur Carkeek and Co of Redruth) and they controlled an extensive layout:
From South to North, the lines were:
Falmouth Bay (signalled for departures only)
Down Main
Branch Platform (signalled as an up through line, but used by terminating Falmouth and Perranporth trains and Penzance locals.
Up Main (the outer face of the island platform)
In addition, there were the following through lines, signalled by ‘Permissive Block’:
Through carriage line
Through down goods
Through up goods
Permissive block entailed block instruments and bells, but allowed more than one engine or train in the section. The signalman had a ‘counter’ on his instrument to remind him. Thus there were no less than 6 through lines between Truro East and West, all with block instruments and a series of block bells, all of different tones, so that signallers could tell them apart.
The 1971 plan was to concentrate all of the work (together with Penwithers Junction) at Truro East box.
Phase 1 (May 1971):
-Through Carriage and up and down goods out of use, replaced by simple ‘yard’ working.
-Branch platform becomes up main.
-Up Main terminated at buffers East end, for arriving Falmouth trains (temporary arrangement).
-Engine shed and Carriage sidings removed.
Phase 2 (November 1971):
East box temporarily closed for installation of new lever frame (old frame 45 levers, new frame 51)
West box controls all traffic.
Penwithers closed and junction simplified, enabling Falmouth trains to run into Falmouth bay (No 1)
Up bay (No 4) out of use for passenger trains. Remains as siding.
At the end of phase 2, West box was closed and the new ‘Truro’ box controlled the entire layout. At that time, the remaining yard could still be accessed from the East end. This junction was removed in the 1980s.
The remaining points at West box end were (are) operated by motor.
The new frame at East box came from the redundant box at Bristol East Depot, closed under the Bristol resignalling scheme. The frame was of 90 levers. One section of it went to Hungerford, near Reading, where the box had been demolished by a derailed freight train, the remainder to Truro.
Penryn box closed under the same scheme and the entire Falmouth branch worked by ‘No signalman token’. The instrument was in a cupboard by the bay line buffers. The token was released electrically by the signalman .
Many thanks to you Roy for this detailed report on the phased changes at Truro Yard in in the local area.
The layout and signalling at Truro altered hardly at all from its installation in 1900 for seventy years.
The two Truro boxes-East and West, both opened with the new station (built by Sir Arthur Carkeek and Co of Redruth) and they controlled an extensive layout:
From South to North, the lines were:
Falmouth Bay (signalled for departures only)
Down Main
Branch Platform (signalled as an up through line, but used by terminating Falmouth and Perranporth trains and Penzance locals.
Up Main (the outer face of the island platform)
In addition, there were the following through lines, signalled by ‘Permissive Block’:
Through carriage line
Through down goods
Through up goods
Permissive block entailed block instruments and bells, but allowed more than one engine or train in the section. The signalman had a ‘counter’ on his instrument to remind him. Thus there were no less than 6 through lines between Truro East and West, all with block instruments and a series of block bells, all of different tones, so that signallers could tell them apart.
The 1971 plan was to concentrate all of the work (together with Penwithers Junction) at Truro East box.
Phase 1 (May 1971):
-Through Carriage and up and down goods out of use, replaced by simple ‘yard’ working.
-Branch platform becomes up main.
-Up Main terminated at buffers East end, for arriving Falmouth trains (temporary arrangement).
-Engine shed and Carriage sidings removed.
Phase 2 (November 1971):
East box temporarily closed for installation of new lever frame (old frame 45 levers, new frame 51)
West box controls all traffic.
Penwithers closed and junction simplified, enabling Falmouth trains to run into Falmouth bay (No 1)
Up bay (No 4) out of use for passenger trains. Remains as siding.
At the end of phase 2, West box was closed and the new ‘Truro’ box controlled the entire layout. At that time, the remaining yard could still be accessed from the East end. This junction was removed in the 1980s.
The remaining points at West box end were (are) operated by motor.
The new frame at East box came from the redundant box at Bristol East Depot, closed under the Bristol resignalling scheme. The frame was of 90 levers. One section of it went to Hungerford, near Reading, where the box had been demolished by a derailed freight train, the remainder to Truro.
Penryn box closed under the same scheme and the entire Falmouth branch worked by ‘No signalman token’. The instrument was in a cupboard by the bay line buffers. The token was released electrically by the signalman .
Many thanks to you Roy for this detailed report on the phased changes at Truro Yard in in the local area.
Now and Then
Exmouth Junction
David Tozer
Exmouth Junction
David Tozer
A location I have been unable to use at Exmouth Junction for years due to the growth of vegetation. Well Network Rail have commenced clearance and a view is now available on the down side.
14th October 1989. 47811 paases with the 0905 Brighton to Plymouth.
19th October 2017. The Network Rail HST passes with the 0456 1Q23 Old Oak Common - Honiton - Exeter - Salisbury, whilst in the turnback siding is GWR Class 150 150121 which will run to St James' Park to form the 0920 service to Cardiff.
Looks like it was a dull day in 1989. The photo of the NMT was taken from my video footage on yet a similar dismal day.
Dave Many thanks David.
14th October 1989. 47811 paases with the 0905 Brighton to Plymouth.
19th October 2017. The Network Rail HST passes with the 0456 1Q23 Old Oak Common - Honiton - Exeter - Salisbury, whilst in the turnback siding is GWR Class 150 150121 which will run to St James' Park to form the 0920 service to Cardiff.
Looks like it was a dull day in 1989. The photo of the NMT was taken from my video footage on yet a similar dismal day.
Dave Many thanks David.
Exmouth Jct. NMT & 150121 19th October 2017 Copyright David Tozer
Exmouth Junction on the 14th Octorber 1989 we see 47811 with the 0905 BN - Ply. Copyright David Tozer
Radstock North SB
Guy Vincent
Guy Vincent
A picture taken from the 'breakout area' (messroom) at the Thames Valley Signalling Centre, Didcot, on an official visit in April 2011. The former Radstock North Signal Box is clearly visible across the way at the Great Western Society site, one extreme in signalling to the other. I intend visiting the GWS one fine day to photograph the ex Frome and Radstock 'boxes in more detail. Many thanks Guy for this very interesting photograph.
Radstock North Signal Box from TVSC, Didcot 8th April 2011 Copyright Guy Vincent
Norden
Swanage Railway
John Cornelius
Swanage Railway
John Cornelius
Copyright John Cornelius